What Mr. Doval is saying makes sense.  India has to keep its forces ready with the best equipment, second to none, which enable them to fight a two-front war, namely the combined forces of Sino-Pak.  This is possible only with a strong economic development and a double digit annual growth in the economy.  The emphasis needs to be on the R & D which is a backbone of any given country.  Why America is a great nation and a super power today?  It is not only because of its large economy, but due to its ultimate tilt towards allocation of large resources for the R & D sector.  The whole world is envy of America's success in this area.  Lot of nations try their best to steal American technology because it is cheaper for them instead of inventing the wheels.  However, needless to say, when one entity develops a final product predicated on a stolen technology, that entity always remains a follower instead of becoming a leader.  India needs to become a leader in the field of new technology and not a follower.  As Mr. Modi said, India has the talent and manpower to accomplish anything India wants.  It is a matter of setting the priorities right and channeling the available resources in the right direction.  Time has changed and the saying 'might is right' stands true and is recognized by others.  While India is trying on its own to invent new things through its own investment in the R & D sector, it may not be out of line to ponder upon a notion of joining hands with the USA or Russia for a long term defense pact to thwart any military motion from China and Pakistan combined.

Mr. Basit is singing on the old tune of Kashmir issue without making much sense.  He is looking for a fair and just resolution on this issue and he professes that both India and Pakistan ought to solve this enigma on equal footings.  However, this writer has a different opinion.  First of all, Mr. Basit should realize by this time that Kashmir is not an issue to be discussed.  It is part of India and will end up becoming part of India of whatever is illegally occupied by Pakistan also.  Secondly, India and Pakistan are not on equal footings in any shape and form - economically, militarily and culturally etc.  I agree with the stand Mr. Modi's government has taken which is not to deal with Pakistan unless the government in Islamabad is able to eradicate terrorism from its territory and surrendering the goons of D-Company.  Once that is achieved, then only the two nations can work together to create a trajectory of establishing a more peaceful environment.  To create a meaningful dialogue, one needs free hands of both the parties.  India has extended an olive branch  many a times towards this objective, but it is Pakistani leaders whose hands are tied behind their back which make them unable to deliver.  So, Mr. Basit ought to impress upon his own government first to take care of these old lingering issues before expecting any initiative from India.

Mr. Fatemi's statement is very clear as respects to Pakistan's attitude towards improving relationship between India and Pakistan.  Pakistani leaders always address India as either an 'arch-rival' or 'enemy' of Pakistan.  With that kind of sentiment and spewing of venom, how can one expect to see any possibility of amelioration of relationship between these two countries?  At least this writer, even though a positive thinker, does not see it happening in the near future.  Mr. Fatemi shifts the blame of this recent cancellation of high level meeting between the officials of both the nations on the meeting of Pakistani official with the separatists leaders of J & K.  However, he forgets that these are the separatists leaders who are creating anarchy in that part of India- of course with the full abetment and financial support of Pakistan. How can India allow Pakistani officials to continue meeting with these trouble makers or should I say the stooges of Pakistan on an Indian ground?  Since India is 100% against terrorism and allowing such meetings defeats India's purpose of achieving success in this respect.  I am glad that Mr. Fatemi's statement clarified as to how authoritative Pakistani military establishment is while alluding to the failure of an effort on the part of ex- President Mr. Musharraf to propose initiating steps to improve relations with India.  Even though it was no secret, but he again confirmed it.  It seems Pakistan has closed its door and there is not going to be any step taken by them to pursue any further discussion to improve relations with India - which I think is good for India.  India ought not to extend any olive branch to Pakistan until there is an improvement on all the points what Mr. Modi discussed with President Obama in the US in September 2014.  As we all know, Pakistan is a failed economy, floating and surviving with the help of petro-dollars.  I am sure with the oil price heading south and an anarchy in Pakistan, the cash flow will shrink to a greater extent and Pakistan is going to cave in under its own problems.  Pakistan does not need any external 'enemy' or 'arch-rival', it is its own enemy.

The judgement in the Dhaula Kuan, Delhi rape case is the correct one. This is the only way these rapists can be taught a lesson. Severe punishment will create a sense of fear and the next rapist, if any, will think multiple times of the consequences before repeating the same mistake. It is imperative for the whole society to protect the honor and safety of female community. If females are not safe, the families will be torn apart which in turn creates lot of societal and marital problems. The children growing from the broken families are not generally that productive for the society. It sounds like a vicious circle, but it is important to maintain it. This writer is a firm believer of strict imprisonment for the rapist, and going a step further, I would suggest to amend the Indian Constitution wherein a life imprisonment is automatically awarded for the rapist without any parole.

It appears that the leaders of ISIS are determined to bring the tide of their ideology into the Asian continent also.  The symptoms of its existence are apparent on the walls of Karachi and other places in Pakistan.  TTP along with some other non-state militant organizations of Pakistan have already pledged their allegiance to the leader of ISIS.  Pakistani government especially the nexus of military/ISI  all along supported the militants and paid a blind eye to their activities in Pakistan.  Now, those seeds of militancy sowed by Pakistan are being nurtured by the combined effort of all these non-state actors and it appears that pretty soon they will take the shape of a grown up tree.  A tree which will not be providing sweet fruits and flowers full of fragrance, rather it will be a dry tree full of thorns hurting everybody who is nearby.  It is going to be a testing exercise for the Pakistani army as to how to eradicate this menace when it takes a full blown shape.  However, this threat is not going to be limited, as the leader of ISIS states, only to Pakistan, rather this organization has a very long range mission to spread this fanatic ideology to other countries also, including India.  Therefore, it is an opportune time for India to gird its loin and be proactive before this ideology steps into its territory.

The threat posed by the ideology of ISIS is not limited only to the Middle East Region.  It has become a worldwide phenomenon.  The supporters of ISIS are unfurling their flag openly in the Kashmir area and ironically the Chief Minister of Kashmir states that there is no influence of ISIS in his State.  The local officials are saying that this situation is being monitored.  The time has come when just monitoring the situation is not going to be enough, it is the time to take stern measures to nip the evil in the bud.  The proponents of ISIS ideology ought to be imprisoned and charged under sedition.  Just arresting the tailor who sewed the flag is not going to take care of this problem.  As far as coalition of a few nations to fight against ISIS in the Middle East is concerned, it is a joke.  It is the USA only which is carrying most of the burden.  Rest of the nations are just providing a lip service.  Many Muslim nations in the region are just watching the show while sitting on the sideline.  Also, it is appropriate to note that the air strikes by the so-called coalition is not going to destroy the ISIS, as the military experts are asserting.  Hence, boots on the ground are required to terminate this menace. The government in Delhi needs to supersede the authority of local government in Kashmir, because it is a matter of national security and not a local issue any more.

What Mr. Jaitley is saying is nothing new.  All Defense Ministers in the past have been making similar statements when it comes to skirmishes on the LOC.  The point to ponder is what it is Mr. Jaitley is insinuating.  Is he going to declare a war with Pakistan which might lead to a nuclear war with its own catastrophic consequences? We all know that Pakistan cann't win a conventional war with India-previous conflicts are live proof of the end results.  Hence, out of frustration someone in Pakistan might push a nuclear button.  India ought not to forget that Pakistani military authorities have not forgotten a military defeat and moral setback of 1971.  They would like to set the score with India in the same coin.  Whether they will be able to accomplish this objective or not, only time will tell.  For that reason, Pakistani military was not, is not and will not be supporting any idea of improving relations with India - it is given.  What is happening at the LOC is an intentional military decisions to divert the attention of Pakistanis from the domestic economic and religious issues, not to underestimate what may come out of 'long march' and 'dharna' headed by Mr. Imran Khan and Dr. Tariq in that country. This writer is of the opinion that these border scuffles and skirmishes are not going to stop unless Pakistan is taught a lesson which will bring the Pakistani Generals on their knees - a replica of what happened in 1971.  One more suggestion, if that happens, make sure Pakistani Generals/government signed an undertaking to the effect that they will never claim Kashmir as their territory.  IT IS ABOUT TIME INDIA TAKES A STERN ACTION IN THIS REGARD.